458 Mr. A. Alcock on the Bathybial Fishes 
complete row of teeth in each jaw and a second incomplete 
row in the maxilla; premaxillary teeth and those at the man- 
dibulary symphysis fang-like; a single row of large fangs in 
the vomer. 
Sauromureenesox vorax, Sp. NOV. 
General form of the body much like that of a chameleon. 
The length of the head measured to the gill-opening is about 
42 in the total; its branchiostegal region is extremely deep 
and wide, its anterior half is contracted and tapers to the long, 
narrow, sharp-pointed snout. The trunk, the length of which 
is two thirds that of the tail, is high and compressed, with a 
nearly straight abdominal and a very strongly convex dorsal 
profile ; it is conspicuously constricted off from both head and 
tail, its height at the middle being more than twice its height 
at the anal level and about one ninth of the total length. The 
tail is slightly compressed, tapers to a fine point, and has the 
appearance of a mere appendage of the trunk; its length is 
one half the total, excluding the snout and eye. The length 
of the snout is twice the width of the interorbital space and 
more than twice the diameter of the large circular eye; it 
tapers to a fine point, which is slightly hooked. Nostrils 
large, the anterior subtubular, at some distance from the tip 
of the snout; the posterior in front of the middle of the eye. 
Cleft of mouth wide, extending an eye-length behind the 
posterior border of the orbit; the upper jaw overlapping the 
lower. Tongue free, bicylindrical, truncated. In maxille 
and mandibles a single row of close-set, equal, acute teeth of 
moderate size; also in the former an inner incomplete series 
of similar teeth, and in the latter at their symphysis three 
pairs of canine teeth, the middle of which are very large, and 
fit when the mouth is closed into a notch between the max- 
illaries and premaxillaries ; four large equal canines in a row 
in the vomer; premaxillz with three smaller canines, which 
project when the mouth is closed. Gill-openings wide, 
extending obliquely from the upper border of the base of the 
pectoral fins to near the middle line of the abdomen; a broad 
flap of skin connects their anterior margin with the base of 
the pectoral fin ; gill-lamine broad. Integument thin, with- 
out scales. Lateral line follows the dorsal curve and ends in 
the posterior half of the tail; it is perforated throughout with 
pores. Vertical fins, especially the anal, feebly developed, 
confluent; the dorsal begins considerably in advance of the 
gill-opening, the anal behind a very large abdominal pore. 
Pectorals longer than the snout. 
